With almost 87 percent of older adults choosing age in place rather than places with long-term facilities, having access to required aids for leading a safe and independent life is important.
If you or your loved one is planning to age in place then it is important to review different situations, areas of the house where you or y+our loved ones may require help at times. One such important place to review with minute attention is -- Kitchen, the most active place around the house.
While it may not be possible to operate normally in the older age, expansion in assistive and adaptive equipment in recent years can make daily life easy and effective.
From food prep boards that keep items in place, adapted cutlery, Non-spill cups to anti-fatigue mats for more energy for users with mobility challenges, here are essential-kitchen aids you should use for a safe and easy routine.
1. Jar Opener
Jar opener is a small kitchen tool that provides a better grip when opening the lids of jars. You can easily find them online specially designed for arthritis patients and the elderly. For more specific and versatile use, you can choose a no-slip grip that can open multiple sized lids like bottles to larger-sized food jars.
2. Ergonomic Can Opener
A can opener is a device designed to open steel cans. Because opening cans with a regular opener can be almost impossible for seniors who have limited mobility or find it difficult to grip things.
3. Reaching Stick
Reaching stick also known as a grabber, a grabber stick or pick-up tool is an extendable stick with a grabber at the end to allow you to reach things easily. Elderly or the ones that find it difficult to reach items on shelves, bend over to pick items up off of the floor, can make the best use of this product.
4. Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat
When cooking or cleaning in the kitchen for a particular period of time, an anti-fatigue floor mat may be helpful for the users. It reduces the pressure on feet, knees and lower back, giving them a secure and stable surface to stand on.
5. Kitchen Timers
Now no more forgetting about food left on the stove or in the oven. While a crockpot may time itself, a kitchen timer as a backup can help you time other items in the pressure cooker, or boiling water.
6. Talking Microwave Oven
With talking ovens, you can ensure the power, time, and other settings that you configured. This can save you from overcooking a meal, or not cooking at all. However, it is important to operate the equipment properly to make them last longer.
7. Cut-Resistant Gloves
Mild to severe injuries may occur with kitchen tools like knives, graters, scissors, etc. Cut-resistant gloves have bodily material than the leather and thus, it can protect your hands from possible injuries.
8. Non-spill Cups
Because of the gripping issues, there are chances that while sipping warm coffee or tea, you might get afraid of spilling that over. With the normal cups, there are chances that you might get burn injuries because of the hot fluid when it spills over. Investing in non-spill cups can assure you a better grip and can let you enjoy your drink without any worries.
9. Auto Shut-Off Stoves
Auto shut-off stoves can prevent fires by automatically shutting down when no motion is detected. It is based on a specified period of time that you can also configure.
10. Rocker Knife
Used to cut vegetables, cheese, or meat on a cutting board, you can use a rocker knife with hand in a rocking motion. It provides stability and safety, making chopping easy for seniors.
11. Non-Stick Cooking Pan
To wash off burnt or leftover uncooked food can be difficult especially for seniors. Especially for elderly people, there are chances of injuries when prying off and hand gets slipped. Using a non-stick cooking pan not only makes cooking easy but also supports cooking at a lower temperature.
12. Adapted Cutlery
To eliminate the grip issues and let you enjoy your meals without any hurdles, adapted cutlery can make a big difference as they provide a better grip with thick and curved handles. They also help in maintaining a stable posture.
Do you use any products to make your age at home comfortable and safe? Let us know in the comments.
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